Last-pulling machine.



B. F. MAYO.

LAST PULLING MACHINE APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2. I914.

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LAST'PULLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV 2,1914.

Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2 B. F. MAYO.

. LAST PULLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 2, I914- m LQ88,436, Patented Dec. 11', 1918.

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LAST PULLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 2. 1914.

Patnted Dec.17,1918.

6 SHEETSSHEET 4- WT/VESSES a W a B. F. MAYO.

LAST PULLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 2, I914.

1,288,436. N. Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

H: a SHEETSSHEET 5.

I/V/T/VZSSESZ I VE/V TUE B. F. MAYO.

LAST PULLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2. I914.

1,288,436. 7 Patented Dec. 17, 1918.-

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

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BENJAMIN F. MAYO, OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A COR- PORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

LAST-PULLING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. MAYO, :1 citizen of the United States, residing at Salem, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certaln Improvements in Last-Pulling Machlnes, of which the following descriptlon, 1n connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to machines for separating shoes and lasts to perform the factory operation commonly termed 1n the trade last pulling.

In the manufacture of boots and shoes, after the shoes have been lasted and, in the manufacture of welt shoes, after the outsoles and heels have been attached and the shoes have been substantially finished, it is necessary to separate the shoes from the lasts over which the shoes have been shaped. It is the practice to perform this operation by hand by removing the instep blocks, if any, spindling the lasts on stationary last pins, and then manually pulling the shoes from the lasts. Such hand last pulling is hard on the workmen since, in addition to requiring skill, it often and usually requires great strength. Also it is relatively slow. Furthermore, hand last pulling very frequently results in damaging shoes, for example, by tearing the Vamps, often at the throats )f the Vamps, or by bending the shoe soles in the shanks and thus distorting the uppers and often cracking the sole finish. Indeed, it is practically impossible to pull by hand lasts of certain styles or to pull by hand ordinary lasts from shoes of cheap, weak stock without seriously or hopelessly damaging the shoes.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a machine for separating shoes and lasts of whatever tvpe by the use of which machine last pulling operations may be performed quickly and satisfactoril.y.. More particularly, it is the object of the invention to provide a last pulling machine by the use of which shoes and lasts may be separated more quickly than before, without the expenditure of the strength and skill required for the hand operation, and without damaging the shoes.

N0 completely successful last pulling machine has heretofore been proposed, nor has any last pulling machine been used to any extent commercially so that, in shoe factories prior to the present invention, so far as I am aware, the last pulling operation has been performed practically universally by hand.

Since, as above suggested, it is an important object of the present invention to minimize the strains upon various shoe parts incident to the last pulling in order to avoid damaging shoes and also to facilitate rapidity of operation, a feature of this invention consists in constructing and arranging the operating parts of the machine so that separation of a shoe and last is accomplished by relative movement thereof along lines imposing minimum strain on the shoe parts. To this end, provision is 'made for self accommodation of the operating parts to different conditions including, for example, different shapes of lasts and shoes and different relative positions of lasts and shoes during last pulling operations.

In accordance with the foregoing, the illustrated machine provides for effecting necessary relative movement of a shoe and last lengthwise thereof rapidly and without injury to the shoe by organization such that throughout each operation of separating a shoe and last, said relative movement is controlled in time and extent by the resistance to separation of the shoe and last. In consequence, during the successive st ages of each last pulling operation, the machine effects lengthwise relative movement of the shoe and last as permitted by said shoe and last, instead of the operating parts following predetermined fixed paths of movement, as in such machines heretofore proposed as have had any provision at all for efiecting relative lengthwise movement of a shoe and last. Accordingly, a feature of the invention consists in interconnected pulling parts arranged automatically to vary their relative posit-ions and the lines of pull in response to the resistance offered to the separation of the shoe and last during the successive stages of separation.

A further important feature ofthe pre. ent invention results from the fact that the illustrated machine is organized to effect the above-mentioned lengthwise relative move ment of a shoe and last by exerting pulling action on the last in a direction having one component of movement lengthwise of the last and shoe while the shoe is, held against lengthwise movement in that direction, the lengthwise component of last movement being controlled by the different relative positions of the shoe and last during separation and finally resulting in completely withdrawing the lastfrom the shoe. Prior to the present invention, no last pulling machine designed to separate shoes and lasts by pulling lasts from shoes while the shoes were held for the removal of saidlasts was organized to provide for lengthwise movement of the last along lines automatically varied in response to the resistance offered to separation by the shoe and as permitted by the different relative positions of the shoe and last. Consequently, no machine of this type heretofore proposed was capable of completely separating lasts and shoes of va rying styles and sizes unless at the expense of hopelessly tearing and damaging shoes to provide egress for their lasts.

Also, preferably and as shown, the machine will be constructed and arranged to be substantially automatic in its operation after the work has been introduced into the machine and properly positioned for the operation thereof.

The foregoing and other objects and features of the present invention, including numerous novel details of construction and combinations of arts, ap ear from the fol lowing detailed description read in connec tion with the accompanying drawings and the novel features of the invention are defined in the appended claims.

It is to be understood, however, that althoughboth in the foregoing statement and in the following description emphasis is placed upon certain particular objects and features of the invention, as well as upon certain details of construction and co1nbi nations of parts. the invention is not intended to be limited thereby.

It is also tobe understood that, although the invention is herein shown and described. for the purpose of illustration as embodied in a last pulling machine organized to separate shoes and lasts by pulling the lasts from their shoes while the shoes are suitably held therefor, the adaptability of many of the features of the invention and elements and combinations of the illustrated machine for use in a last pulling machine organized reversely to remove shoes from lasts while the lasts are held for removal of the shoes there from is fully recognized. It is furthermore contemplated that the invention as a whole, or various features thereof, may have many and widely different applications. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be determined by the broadest construction of the terms of the claims permitted byfthe prior art. Particularly, the expressions last pulling, removing lasts from shoes, and kindred, expressions employed in the claims and elsewhere herein are limited in scope to machines which perform the last pulling operation by holding a shoe and operating upon the last to remove it from the shoe only when necessarily and plainly so restricted by the immediate context or bv the state of the art such expressions being commonly employed herein broadly and generically because of the cOmmOn application in the trade of last pulling and the like to the separation of shoes and lasts however performed. Such use of these and other similar expressions is purely for the sake of brevity and general convenience and not at all by way of limitation.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an illustrative machine embodying the present inventiomwith portions of the machine frame broken away to show inclosed mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view to illustrate the work engaging parts of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the machine;

Fig. 4; is a transverse vertical section show ing a shoe held in position for a last pulling operation;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section through a holder of an auxiliary shoe holding device;

F igs. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 show different stages in a last pulling operation; Y

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through portions of the driving mechanism to illustrate the starting and stopping means; and

Figs. 12 and 13 show opposite sides of the cam disk.

The illustrated machine comprises a heavy upright column designed to stand on a floor and having in its upper part a bearing sleeve 1 (Fig.1) for a power shaft 2. The shaft 2 carries a loose pulley 3 intended to be connected to a-source of power and having a clutch surface formed to be engaged by a cone clutch member 4: splined on the shaft 2. -When permitted, the clutch member a is moved toward the right 1) to close the clutch by a compression spring 5 within the hub of the clutch member i and held between said clutch member and a portion of the shaft bearing 1. The spring 5 is permitted to operate the clutch member 4t to close the clutch upon movement of a lever 6, journaled adjacent the end of its forked upper arm (Fig. 8) on the clutch member 4 and operated by a toggle 7, 8, (Figs. 1 and 11) to which is pivoted a rod 9 pivotally connected at its lower end to the rear end of a starting treadle 10, depression of which raises the rod 9 and breaks the toggle 7 8, to move the lever 6 toward the right (Fig. 1) to permit thespring to close the clutch. The

treadle 10 is normally maintained elevated at its free end by a spring 12, the rod 9 being thereby normally pulled down thus clepressing the pivotal connection ofthe'rod 9 with the toggle 7 8 as far as permitted by a stop 13. A turn buckle 1e (Fig. 1) provides for adjustment of the rod 9. The clutch is opened by automatic stopping mechanism a description of which is given hereinafter to gether with the operation in detail of the above mentioned arrangement for starting the machine.

For holding a shoe. for a last pulling o eration, the machine is provided with shoe holding means comprising, in the illustrated construction, shoe clamping members arranged to be moved from inoperative positions into operative engagement with a shoe. Movement of the shoe clamping members into operative engagement with a shoe is provided for as follows: Fixed on the shaft 2 is a worm (Figs. 1 and 11) meshing with a worm gear 16 through which the worm 15 drives a. cam shaft 20 arranged to make half a revolution for each complete cycle of the machine. On the cam shaft 20 is a cam disk 21 (Figs. 1, 11, 12, 13) having in its periphery two opposed relatively short low parts or depressions 22, 22 (Fig. 12), the remainder of its periphery being uniform in diameter and concentric with its axis. The cam disk 21 operates a lever 25 fulcrumed at 2 L (Fig. 1) and carrying on its lower arm a roll A which engages the periphery of the cam disk 21. The upper end of the lever 25 engages and intermittently thrusts toward the left (Fig. 1) and against the pull of return springs 23 a plunger 26 carrying a cross head 27 connected by links 28 to the rear arms of hell cranks 30. The bell cranks 30 are fulcrumed at 29 to fixed portions of the machine frame and their front arms are linked by adjustable bars 32 t0 frames which carry shoe holding devices for engaging the two sides of a shoe. The frames 35 and the shoe engaging and holding devices carried thereby are alike forthe two sides of the shoe.

Each frame 35 has two stems 33, 34 (Fig. 4:) movable endwise toward and from a shoe in stationary slideways. At their inner ends the stems 33, 3e carry respectively heel and counter grippers 36, 37. The stems 33, 3% are formed by inner and outer telescoping sections between which are seated relief springs 38, the tension of which can be ad justed by screws 39. Both the heel and counter grippers 36, 37 comprise opposed independentblocks arranged to engage opposite sides of the rear portion of a shoe and having, by reason of their above described mounting and arrangement, substantially right line movement toward and from shoe engaging; position upon movement. of the frames 35 operated through the above described connections with the lever 25 and cam disk 21.

The heel and counter gripper blocks may be made of any suitable material. In the illustrated construction, rubber is employed since it combines desirable adhesiveness and resiliency with a non-abrasive quality whereby t-he said blocks hold a shoe very firmly and at the same time are somewhat self conforming to the contour of the shoe parts engaged without injuring the finish of the shoe. Preferably, the counter gripper blocks are concaved horizontally and lengthwise of a shoe (Fig. 3) to adapt them to the contour of the sides of a shoe counter from the heel breast line rearwardly and the heel gripper blocks are similarly concaved to adapt their work engaging faces to the contour of the sides of a shoe heel from the heel breast rearwardly. The counter gripper blocks also have their work engaging faces concaved vertically and transversely of a shoe to adapt them to the vertical contour of the sides of a shoe counter (Figs. 2 and 4:). Similarly, as plainly shown in Fig. a. the heel gripper blocks have their work engaging faces shaped to conform to the vertical contour of the sides of a shoe heel from the tread face to the heel seat.

In order that the heel and counter gripper blocks may be freely self positioning further to accommodate them to the contour of the sides of a shoe heel and counter from the heel breast line rearwardly, the holders 40, in which the heel and counter gripper blocks are removably carried, are each swiveled on its stem by a vertical pivot 41, a supporting plate 42 (Fig. 4:) sustaining the grippers 36, 37 against sagging. The heel and counter grippers 36, 37 are rendered stillfurther self-accommodating to different sizes and shapes of shoes by the above described relief springs 38 which operate to cause the said grippers to engage a. shoe with adjustable spring pressure. Also, the before-mentioned adjustable bars connecting the bell cranks 30 to the gripper carrying frames 35, provide for adjusting the extent of shoe engaging movement of the grippers 36, 37 according to varying conditions, particu larly for shoes of different widths.

In addition to the described heel. and counter clamps 36, 37. the illustrated machine is provided with auXiliai-y shoe holding means cooperating with the grippers 36, 37 to hold a shoe for a last pulling operation by engagement with the shoe sole on opposite sides of the sole. To this end, each. gripper carrying frame 35 has a holder 44 (Figs. 3 and into which is threaded an adjustable nut 16 bearing against one end. of a spring 47 encircling a stem 48 of a carrier 50 and seated at its other end against an outstanding annular rim on said stem 48. A shoe sole engaging device l5 is dovetailed into the front end of each carrier 50. The auxiliary holding devices 45 are located relatively to the heel and counter grippers 36, 37 to engage a shoe in the shank and, conveniently, as shown in Fig. 1, well forward in the shank near the line of the break between the forepart and shank. In the illustrated construction, each device 45 comprises a relatively thin flat blade adapted to engage a shoe in the welt crease. The auxiliary shoe holding devices 45 not only cotiperate with the shoe holding grippers 36, 37 in positioning a shoe and holding it positioned for a last pulling operation, but at the same time, afford additional support for the shoe, particularly in the region of the shank, to prevent bending the shoe sole and thus cracking or injuring the sole finish.

As in the case of the heel and counter grippers 36, 37, the auxiliary shoe holding devices are constructed and arranged to meet the various requirements of shoes of many sizes and shapes. Preferably, as shown in Fig. 1, the devices 45 are normally inclined at an oblique angle to the vertical to adapt their crease engaging blades approximately to the spring of a shoe shank. To enable the devices 45 to be movable from said position according to the spring of a particular shoe shank, each carrier for a shoe sole engaging device 45 has a vertical slot entered by a roll 49 on a stationary guide 51 held by a bolt 53 (see particularly Fig. 5) passing through a slot in the frame 35, the slot 55 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, being long enough to allow tipping or swinging adjusting movement of the carrier 50 about its lengthwise axis. At the same time, the described construction provides for holding each device 45 against turning as it lides toward and from the work. Further adjustment of each device 45 is provided for by a screw 52 (Fig. 5) and lock nut by means of which said devices 45 may be adjusted up r down in a generally vertical direction and secured in adjusted positions to adjust them for shoe shanks differing in height. Also, as in the case of the heel and counter grippers 36, 37, the auxiliary shoe holding devices 45 are pressed against the work under adjustable spring pressure by means of the springs 47 and adjusting nuts 46 before mentioned.

In the use of the machine, the described power driven mechanism provides for automatically and substantially simultaneously advancing the shoe holding grippers 36, 37 and the auxiliary shoe sole engaging devices 45 yieldingly into operative engagement with a shoe when the power shaft 2 turns the cam disk 21 in the direction of the arrow from the position shown in Fig. 1. The grippers 36, 37 are thus given a right line forward movement horizontally and substantially at right angles to the longitudinal median line of a shoe to clamp the rear portion of the shoe, while the auxiliary shoe holding devices 45 are similarly moved to enter the welt crease well forward in the shank and, by engagement with the shoe sole, to sustain the sole against the last pulling movement. The described contour of the cam disk 21 operates to cause the shoe to be held securely clamped until the roll A on the lever 25 drops into one of the depressions 22 in the periphery of the cam disk 21 at the end of a half revolution of the shaft 20, whereupon the spring 23 retract the shoe engaging devices 36, 37 and 45 to the normal inoperative positions shown in Fig. 3, thereby releasing the shoe. During the time the shoe is held thus clamped, the last is pulled from the shoe by last removing means to be described.

If desired, the heel grippers 36 may sometimes be omitted and the shoe counter grippers 37 alone used to clamp the rear portion of the shoe. Also, in some classes of work where comparatively little resistance is offered to the separation of a shoe and its last, particularly in the early stages of the last pulling operation, the shoe sole engaging devices 45 may be omitted, the described clamping means for the rear portion of the soe alone being relied upon to hold the s oe.

In order that separation of a shoe and last may be effected, it is essential that there be relative movement of the shoe and last lengthwise thereof. I11 the illustrated machine, such relative movement is provided for by holding the shoe against lengthwise movement in one direction, the last removing means operating to effect lengthwise last movement in said direction while the shoe is so held. With this in View, the concaved shoe holding devices 36, 37 are arranged to embrace the rear portion of a shoe sufficiently to form an abutment for the shoe against lengthwise movement heelward. To the same end and also to facilitate correct positioning of a shoe, the illustrated machine is provided with a shoe back gage 54 (best shown in Fig. 2) preferably covered, for example, by a strip of rubber 56 or other resilient and non-abrasive material. As shown in Fig. 2, the illustrated back gage 54 comprises a plate bent at substantially a right angle to provide a vertically disposed portion which constitutes the shoe engaging part of the back gage, and a horizontally disposed portion adj ustablv secured to the machine frame by means of a lock nut 57 entering a relatively long slot 59 in said horizontal portion of the back gage plate. The nut and slot construction 57, 59 provides for adjustment of the back gage 54 for shoes of different lengths. In addition to erving as a gage to facilitate initial location of a shoe by engagement with the counter at the back of the shoe, the back gage 54 also constitutes an additional abutment for the shoe, cotiperating with the shoe grippers 36, 37 to prevent lengthwise movement of the shoe heelward.

The illustrated machine is organized to pull a last from a shoe, while the shoe is held in the manner above described, by exerting upon said last a compound pulling action in directions to effect a complete withdrawal of the last from the shoe. To this end, the machine is provided with a last holder arranged to withdraw a last from a shoe by a generally downward last move ment having an increasing component of lengthwise last movement. The illustrated arrangement is such that the last is given an initial movement substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the shoe bottom, the mechanism exerting constantly an increasing lengthwise draft on the last so that, as soon as the heel end of the last has moved downwardly far enough so that it can clear the counter portion of the shoe, the last moves downwardly out of the shoe with an appreciable component of lengthwise movement.

For engaging and holding a last and withdrawing said last from its shoe while the shoe is held by the clampingdevices 36, 37, 45, the illustrated machine is provided with a last support and holder comprising, a spindle arranged to be tipped to cramp or bind it in holding engagement with a last and operatively connected with the cam shaft 20 to cause the last spindle to be moved in a generally downward direction, the organization being such as to cause the last holding spindle to effect lengthwise last movement as permitted by the shoe and last.

To cause the last holding spindle to be thus operated from the cam shaft 20, the cam disk 21 on said cam shaft 20 carries a double armed cam 58 (see particularly Figs. 12 and 13) having a hub embraced by the forked upper end of a thrust bar 60 (Figs. 1, l2 and 13) arranged, by engagement of a. roll 63 on said bar 60 with said cam 58, to force downwardly a plunger supporting lever 61 fulcrumed at 62 and normally up: held by a counter weigh-t 64 (Fig. 1). lhe lever 61 is operatively connected with the last spindle by a plunger 65 arranged to be reciprocated upon movement of the lever 61. The plunger 65 passes through a vertical guide 6 between and secured to a pair of guide plates 0, a. To the upper end of the plunger 65 a bar 66 is secured by a pivot 67 extending transversely of the machine and consequently transversely of a shoe and last operatively positioned in the machine. The upper end of the bar 66 is connected, by a similarly arranged pivot 68, to the rear upper end of a frame 70 guided between the plates 0, c and constituting a swinging carin Fig. 2, the plunger 65 being fully elevated. A shoe, having therein a last to be pulled, is presented by mounting the last on the spindle 72. The shoe is then elevated by the operator into position to be engaged and held by the shoe clamps 36, 37 and 45, for example, by the operator manually swinging the last spindle carrier 70 upwardly (as indicated in Fig. 1) to move the last spindle 72 and last and shoe thereon to bring the heel end of the shoe into proper position against the back gage 53 and the shoe at the proper position relatively to the devices 36, 37 and 45, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4, in which position the shoe bottom is substantially horizontal, with the shoe heel between the heel grippers 36, the shoe counter between the counter grippers 37, and the shoe shank similarly located between the shoe sole engaging auxiliary blades 45.

l Vhen the starting treadle 10 is depressed, the shoe engaging and holding devices 36, 37 and 45 are brought as above described, into yielding clamping engagement with the shoe after which, and while the shoe is thus held, the plunger 65 is forced downwardly by the cam 58 through downward movement of the thrust bar 60 and plunger supporting lever 61. As the plunger 65 descends. it operates to pull down the rear end of the last spindle carrier 70 with the result that, during the first part of'the-descent of the plunger 65, the last spindle 7:2 is tipped from the position of Fig. 6 into firm holding engagement with the last thereon (Fig. 7 and thereafter until the completion of the last pulling operation maintained tipped in said holding engagement (Figs. 8 and 9).

To facilitate effecting and maintaining initial last holding engagement of the last spindle with the last and to prevent the last spindle from dropping out of the last pin hole after the shoe has been positioned to be engaged and held by the shoe holding means but before downward movement of the plunger 65 operates to eifect secure holding engagement of the last spindle with the last, the illustrated machine is provided with a spring plunger 73 carried in the bar 66. This spring plunger 73, by acting against a portion of the carrier frame 70 depending below the pivotpoint 68, tends to swing the carrier 70 and last spindle 72 automatically at an'oblique angle to the normal direction of the last pin hole and in the direction to tip and maintain the last spindle in clamping engagement with the last.

Preferably, the last spindle carrier is formed with an abutment 74: which constitutes a stop to limit depression of the carrier'70 by engagement with the bar 66 (see for example, Fig. 2). Also, in the illustrated construction, the bar 66 and the plunger 65 have cooperating stops 75, 7 6 (Fig. 1)

to limit forward and downward tipping of thebar 66 when the parts are idle 1n shoe receiving position (Fig. 52).

The operation of the above described last removing means in pulling a last from a shoe will best be understood by reference particularly to Figs. 6 to 10, the arrows indicating the behavior of the parts. The first part of the downward movement of the plunger 65 operates as above stated, to pull down the rear end of the last spindle carrier 70 to the oblique position shown in Fig. 7, in which position the last spindle is securely cramped in holding engagement with the last. Thereafter, during the descent of the plunger 65, the last spindle is operated to pull the last downwardly and lengthwise heelward until the last is completely removed from the shoe. By reason of the pivotal connections 67 and 68, the plunger 65 at all times during its descent exerts upon the last spindle a distinct and increasing pull backwardly. This not only tends to tip the last spindle 72 more and more, thus causing it to hold the last more securelyin proportion as the tendency of the last to separate from the last spindle in creases, but, during the generally downward last movement, the last spindle is caused to exert upon the last a constant and progressively increasing pull heelward. The result is that, as the last is moved downwardly, it is also moved lengthwise relatively to the shoe as soon and as much as permitted by the relative positions of the last and shoe. During the initial stages of the last pulling movement. from the position of Fig. 7 to approximately the position of Fig. 8, the last is so held by the counter materials that the last movement is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the shoe bottom. As soon, however, as the last has moved relatively to the shoe far enough so that the heel end of the last can clear the counter portion of the shoe, at which time the last is permitted to have a very decided lengthwise movement from the position shown in Fig. 8 to the position in Fig. 9, the lengthwise pull exerted upon the last by the last pulling mechanism operates automatically to withdraw the last lengthwise heelward from the shoe (Fig. 10).

An important feature of the present invention consists in the fact that, by reason of the pivotal connections 67, 68, the last spindle 72, instead of following a definite path or paths of movement irrespective of diflerences in resistance to separation offered by a given shoe and last at dilferent stages in the last pulling operation, is floating and is freely self-positioning to accommodate itself always and automatically to difierent conditions and changing relative positions of shoe and last to cause each last pulling movement to be eflected at all times along the line offering minimum resistance to separation. This facilitates rapid operation and avoids injuring the shoe. Thus, for example, the machine does not overstrain the vamp and back of a shoe as would be likely to be the case if, before the heel end of the last cleared the counter, an excessive lengthwise pull were exerted on the last. On the other hand, as soon as permissible, the machine automatically eifects a decided lengthwise last movement to withdraw the last heelward from the shoe.

The automatic accommodation of the line of pulling force to lines of pull ofiering less resistance to separation is effected through the freedom of the pivotally inter-connected pulling members 70, 66, and 65, to swing relatively to each other to change the line of pulling force to lines offering less resistance to separation during the successive stages of separation of each specific shoe and last operated upon.

To illustrate, and referring particularly to Figs. 79 of the drawings: the first slight movement of the jack 70 to the right when the lunger 65 begins to descend cramps the pin 2 in the last thimble or hole and locks the last to the jack. Further movement of the plunger tends to swing the jack with its last still further to the right but this movement would be in the direction of greatest resistance because of the interposed shoe counter. The resistance offered by the counter to such movement, acting through jack 70, swings the latter on its pivot 68 during the continued descent of the plunger so that the line of pull on the last is downwardly along a line olfering less resistance as suggested in Fig. 8. The interconnected pulling members 66, 70, form a bent toggle which tends to straighten out, as permitted by the different relative. positions of the shoe and last and .the resistance offered to separation, as the plunger 65 continues to descend, this straightening out tendency and the movement of the plunger in a vertical plane rearwardly of the shoe, producing the lengthwise heelward component of movement of the last and its carrier.

Continued descent of the plunger from the position of the parts shown, in Fig. 8, therefore, tends to pull the last diagonally downwardly and rearwardly as permitted by the successive relative positions of the last and shoe and the resistance offered to separation. T his resistance to separation acting against the jack 7 0 will swing the jack still further on its pivot 68 and will swing the connected bar 66 on its pivot 67 until the pull on the last is in a direction offering less resistance-in the illustrated case, in a direction to pull the last diagonally downwardly and rearwardly with its wide ball portion drawn outwardly through the yielding unfastened edges of the quarters, as will be seen from Figs. 8 and 9.

The action will differ somewhat with differences in the size and style of the specific shoes and lasts operated upon. The interconnected pulling members, through their freedom to swing into different relative positions and lines ofpull responsively to the resistance offered to separation, will be positioned automatically as described, according to the lines of pull offering less resistance to separation in each particular case, so that the machine is adapted to all shoes and lasts without adjustment for different lines of pull in specific cases. In all cases the lengthwise heelward component of movement (which changes the substantially downward pull to a diagonally downward and rearward movement) increases substan tially after the last heel has cleared the edge of the shoe counter but only as permitted by the relative positions of the shoe and last and the consequent resistance to separation.

By reason of the relatively greater resist ance offered to separation of a shoe and last during the early stages of the last pulling movement, it has been found in practice that the last pulling operation can not properly proceed as fast during the early part thereof as is permissible, for example, after the heel end of the last has been moved relatively to the shoe far enough so that it can clear the shoe counter, after which there is less resistance to the last pulling movement so that the remainder of the operative movement of the last spindle can be effected relatively rapidly without danger of injury to the shoe. To provide for movement of the last Y removing means slowly enough during the early stages of the last pulling operation to avoid damaging the shoe and at the same time to provide for greater speed when permissible in order to perform last pulling operations with desirable rapidity, in the illustrated machine, each half of the cam 58, which operates the last spindle 72 through the plunger 65, the plunger supporting lever 61, and thrust bar 60, is formed to initiate the last pulling movement at a relatively slow speed and to change the speed of the last pulling movement to a decidedly higher speed when the resistance to separation of shoe and last has decreased sutliciently to permit.

To this end, and also in order that the shoe clamps 36, 37, L5 may be brought into shoe holding engagement with a shoe before the last pulling movement is initiated, the double armed cam 58 is arranged, as plainly shown in Figs. 12 and 13, so that, when the machine is started with the parts in the positions shown for example, in Fig. 12, upon rotation of the cam 58 in the direction of the arrow, the cam 58 does not begin to move the thrust bar 60 through the roll 63 until the operating half of the cam 58 has moved from the position shown in Fig. 12 to approximately the position where the point marked engages the said roll, at which time the last pulling movement is initiated at a relatively slow speed. When approximately the point 3 engages the roll 63, by reason of an abrupt change in the contour of the cam 58, a considerably higher speed is automatically imparted to the last spindle 72 through the plunger 65 and intermediate connections.

It should also be noticed that the above described worm and worm gear 15, 16 con stitute a speed reducing element whereby the speed of the operating parts of the machine is made less than the speed of the shaft 2 for the reason that it has been found desirable to run the machine at a less speed than the speed at which power driven shafts in factories are ordinarily run.

As the plunger 65 completes its descent. the last is completely pulled out of the shoe and the frame drops to a forwardly tipped position (Fig. 10), convenient for removal of the last from its spindle 72, in which position the forward tipping movement of the frame 70 is arrested by the stops 7 5, 76. The plunger 65 is then raised before the end of the cycle of the machine to the position shown in Fig. 2 so that it will be ready for the convenient application of another shoe to the spindle and the manually effected lifting of the shoe into position to be engaged by the shoe clamps 36, 37, 45. During the last part of the cycle of the ma chine and after the completion of the last pulling movement, the shoe clamps release the shoe from which a last has been pulled. and come to rest in the normally inoperative position of Fig. 3 ready for the reception of the next shoe. In practice, the operator catches the released shoe in one hand, while removing from the last spindle with the other hand the last just pulled, and then picks up another shoe, spindles it, and tips it upwardly into position to be clamped all in one series of continuous movements followed by the treadling of the machine to cause it successively to clamp the shoe and withdraw the last therefrom.

For automatically stopping the machine at the end of its cycle, there is provided in the illustrated machine mechanism before mentioned, which mechanism is described but not claimed herein, this mechanism forming the subject-matter of United States Letters Patent No. 1,196,836, granted Sept. 5, 1916, on application of John M. Benjamin.

Referring to Figs. 1, 3, and 11, and particularly to Fig. 11, the lever 6 is trunnioned at 71 on a hub 83 on the male clutch member 4:. The upper end of the lever 6 is pivoted at '77 to the rear end of a link 78 guided between fixed ears 7 9 upstanding from the bearing 1 in which. the shaft 2 turns. The front end of the link 78 is forked (Fig. 11) to embrace the nub of the cam disk 21 in such manner as to allow sliding movement of the link 78 forwardly and backwardly parallel to the shaft On one of its side faces, the link 7 8 has a projection 80, best shown in Fig. 11, the outer edge face of which projection is eccentric to the axis of the cam shaft 20 and normally located to be engaged by one or the other of rolls 81, 82 carried on one side of the cam disk 21, such engagement forcing the link '7 8 forwardly toward the left (Fig. 11) and thereby moving the lever 6 in the direction to pull the clutch member 1- out of driving contact with the cooperating clutch face on the continuously running pulley 3 and locking the said clutch member in inoperative position.

The stopping mechanism just described cooperates with the treadle 10 and associated parts heretofore described as follows: When the parts are in their normal positions, as before stated, the spring 12 operates through the treadle 10 and rod 9 to hold the toggle 7, 8 in the position shown in Fig. 11, that is, approximately straight with the link 7 in engagement with the stop pin 13. Upon depression of the treadle 10, the rod 9 is raised to break the toggle 7, 8, as indicated in broken lines in Fig. 11. This toggle movement results in movement of the lower end of lever 6 toward the right (Fig. 11) since the outer end of link 8 turns about a fixed pivot. Because of the fact that, in the normal positions of the parts, the cam disk 21 is at rest with either the roll 81 or the roll 82 in engagement with the projecting portion 80 of link 78 and the link 78 thereby held stationary at the left hand limit of its movement (looking at Fig. 11), upon depression of the treadle 10 and consequent movement of the lower end of lever 6 toward the right (Fig. 11), said lever 6 fulcrums about its connection 77 with the link 78, thereby allowing the spring 5 to snap the clutch member 4: toward the right into clutching engagement with the driving pulley 3. Thereupon, the shafts 2 and 20 are set in motion and the roll 81 or 82 passes ofl? the projection 80 on the link 78, leaving the link 78 free to slide endwise toward the right (Fig. 11). The operator is expected to remove his foot from the treadle as soon as the machine is started, whereupon the spring 12 restores the toggle 7, 8 to the position shown in Fig. 1 and in full lines in Fig. 11, thus swinging the lower end of lever 6 toward the left (Figs. 1 and'll). In this movement, the lever 6 shifts its fulcrum and turns about the axis of its trunnion 71, since the spring 5 is pressing the clutch member 4 and consequently its trunnion 71 toward the right. Such movement of the lever 6 toward the left draws the link 78 toward the right and thereby locates the projection 80 in the path of the approaching roll 82. When said roll 82 engages the projection 80, the link 7 8 is thereby forced toward the left and, inasmuch as the toggle 7, 8 holds the lower end of lever 6 against movement toward the right, movement of the link 78 toward the left causes the lever 6 to fulcrum about its connection 84 with toggle link 7 in consequence of which the clutch member 4 is pulled out of clutching engagement with the pulley 3 and the machine is stopped. In the illustrated construction, this disconnection of the clutch members takes place automatically at the end of a half revolution of the cam shaft 20 which occurs at the end of a complete cycle of the machine. It will be noted that, in the construction described, all of the power driven parts of the machine receive their movements from a single cam disk 21, provided with the peripheral depressions 22 and having the double armed cam 58 on one side and the cam rolls 81, 82 on the other side. This invention, therefore, provides a simple, compact and strong driving mechanism for the machine.

With respect to the foregoing, it is to be understood that, within the invention, various changes may be made in the shoe and last engaging devices and also in the construction and organization of the operating mechanism therefor. In addition to changes and modifications hereinbefore indicated, manyother changes in construction and arrangement, such as will readily occur to those skilled in the art, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having fully explained my invention and described in what manner the same may be embodied, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a last pulling machine, in combination, shoe holding means and last holding means arranged for relative movement to efiect the separation of a shoe and its last, and means for effecting said relative movement including interconnected pulling members relatively movable without predetermined paths of movement cooperating with one of said holding means and constructed and arranged automatically to change their relative positions and line .of pull during the successive stages-of shoe and last separation in response to the resistance offered to separation by the specific shoe and last operated upon.

2. A last pulling machine having, in combination, shoe holding means, last holding means, and mechanism for effecting relative movement of said means to cause separation of the shoe and last, including interconnected pulling parts arranged for relative movement to vary the line of pull and automatically to change their relative positions during the relative movement of said means in. response to the inesistance offered to separation during the successive stages of separation.

33. In a last pulling machine, in combina tion, a shoe holder, a last holder, a mounting for one of said holders including interconnected pulling members relatively movable without predetermined paths of movement constructed and arranged auton'iatically to change their relative positions and line of pull during the successive stages of shoe and last separation in response to the resistance offered to separation of the shoe and last, and mechanism for operating said pulling members to separate a shoe and its last.

4. A last pulling machine having, in combination, shoe grippers and a last holding spindle relatively movable to separate a shoe and last, together with a carrier for one of said elements having interconnected pulling parts relatively movable to vary the line of shoe and last separating pull and arranged automatically to vary their relative positions and the line of pull in response to the resistance offered to separation by the last and shoe.

In a last pulling machine, means for holding a shoe for the removal of a last therefrom, and last removing means including interconnected pulling parts relatively movable to vary the line of pulling force and organized automatically to vary their relative positions and the line of pull during the successive stages of last and shoe separation in response to the resistance offered to separation by the last and shoe.

6. In a last pulling machine, a shoe holding clamp, a last holding support, operating means for said support including interconnected pulling parts between. said last support and its operating means arranged for relative movement to vary the line of pulling force and automatically operative to change their relative positions and line of pulling force during the successive stages of last .and shoe separation in response to the maximum resistance offered to the separation of the shoe andv last.

7. In a last pulling machine, in combination, shoe holding means, a last holding spindle, a swinging carrier for said spindle arranged to be manually moved to position a last and the shoe thereon to cooperate with said shoe holding means, means for effecting movement of said last carrier to remove the last from a shoe including an operating member and pivotal connections between said last carrier and said member so ar- Ji'anged that upon movement of said operating member said carrier is automatically positioned to accommodate said spindle and alast thereon to the varying lines of pull required by the different relative positions of a shoe and last during the successive stages of separation.

S. A last pulling machine having, in combination, a last holder and a shoe clamp, with power-operated mechanism arranged to separate a. shoe and last by movement of the last in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of the shoe bottom with an increasing lengthwise component of movement of the last as permit-ted by different relative positions of the shoe and last.

9. A last pulling machine having, in combination, a last holder, a shoe clamp, and

power operated mechanism for relatively moving said holder and said clamp including interconnected pulling members relatively movable Without predetermined paths of movement and free to effect lengthwise relative movement of a shoe and last as permitted by different relative positions of said shoe and last.

10. A last pulling machine having, in combination, a last holding spindle, shoe grippers, and mechanism for effecting relative movement of said spindle and said grippers to separate a shoe and last, said mechanism including interconnected relatively movable pulling members having free pivotal connections and without predetermined paths of movement operative to effect lengthwise relative movement of said shoe and last as permitted by different relative positions thereof.

11. A last pulling machine having, in combination, a last holding device, a shoe holding device, an operating member for effecting movement of said last holding device in a direction to separate the last from the shoe, a power driven shaft, and a speed reducing connection between said shaft and said operating member, whereby the speed of said separating movement is reduced below the speed of said shaft.

12. A last pulling machine having, in combination, a last holder, a shoe clamp, a cam for-effecting movement of said last holder in a direction to effect separation of the last from the shoe, a power driven shaft, and a. speed reducing device operatively con nected to said shaft and said cam, whereby said cam operated movement is produced at a less speed than the speed of said shaft.

13, A. last pulling machine having, in

combination, shoe holding means, last enlast holder arranged for tipping movement to bind or cramp the last holder in a last in said shoe to oppose separation of the last and holder, and means for relatively moving said shoe holding means and said last holder to separate the shoe and last.

15. A last pulling machine having, in combination, shoe holding means, a last spindle arranged for tipping movement to exert a binding or cramping action on a last in a shoe to oppose separation of the last from the last spindle during the last pulling operation, and mechanism for relatively moving said shoe holding means and said spindle to separate a shoe and last.

16. A last pulling machine having, in combination, shoe holding means, a tipping last holder arranged to offer increasing resistance to separation of a last from said holder in proportion as the tendency of said last to separate from the holder increases, and means for relatively moving said shoe holding means and said last holder to separate a shoe and last. I

17. A last pulling machine having, in combination, means for holding a shoe, a last spindle, a carrier for the last spindle arranged for tipping movement to cramp the last spindle in the last to oppose separation of the last and last spindle, and means for relatively moving the shoe holding means and the last spindle carrier to separate a shoe and last.

18. A last pulling machine having, in combination, a shoe holder, a last spindle, a carrier for the last spindle pivoted for tipping movement to cramp the last spindle in holding engagement with a last, and means for relatively moving said shoe holder and said carrier to separate a last and shoe.

19. A last pulling machine having, in combin-ation, a shoe clamp, a last holding spindle, a swinging carrier for the last spindle, and means for effecting relative movement of said clamp and said last spindle to separate a shoe and last, said carrier operating during said relative movement to tip said last spindle to cause it to offer increasing resistance to separation of a last therefrom in proportion as the tendenoy of said last to separate from said spindle increases.

20. A last pulling machine having, in combination, shoe holding means, a last holder, and means for tiping said last holder to cramp it in last holding engagement and thereafter relatively moving said shoe hold-- ing means and said last holder to separate a shoe and last.

21. In a last pulling machine, the c0mbi-- nation With a shoe holder and a last spindle, of means for tipping said last spindle to cramp it in last holding engagement and thereafter relatively moving said shoe holder and last spindle to separate a shoe and last.

22. A last pulling machine having, in combination, a shoe clamp, shoe holding means, a last holder mounted to be tipped into hold ing engagement with a last, and means for operating said last holder to pull said last from its shoe.

23. A last pulling machine having, in combination, shoe holding means, a last holder mounted for tipping movement into holding engagement with a last, operating means for said holder, and connections from said operating means to said holder operat ing to cause said holder to be tipped into holding engagement With a last and thereafter to pull said last from its shoe.

A last pulling machine, having, in combination, shoe holding means, a last holder, and means for tipping said last holder to cramp it in holding engagement with a last and thereafter operating said last holder to pull a last from its shoe, said lastnamed means acting upon the last spindle to cause it to offer increasing resistance to separation of the last from the last spindle in proportion as the tendency of the last to separate from the last spindle increases.

25. A last pulling machine having, in combination, shoe holding means, a last spin dle, an operating member, and connections from the operating member to thespindle acting upon movement of the operating member to cause said spindle to be tipped into binding engagement with a last thereon and thereafter to pull said last from its shoe.

2 6. A last pulling machine having, in combination, a shoe clamp, a last spindle, an operating member, and pivotal connections from said operating member to said last spindle operating to tip said last spindle into holding engagement With a last and thereafter to pull said last from its shoe.

27. A last pulling machine having, in ombination, shoe holding means, a last spindle, a swinging carrier for said spindle, an operating member, and an intermediate member pivotally connected to said carrier and to said operating member whereby upon movement of said operating member said spindle is moved into holding engagement with a last and thereafter operated to pull said last from its shoe.

28. In alast pulling machine, the combination with shoe holding means, of a last holder, a swinging carrier therefor, yielding means tending to swing said carrier and last holder in adirection to tip the last holder into cramping engagement with a last thereon, and means for relatively moving said shoe holding means and said last holder to separate a shoe and last.

2-). A last pulling machine having, in combination, shoe holding means, a tipping last spindle. power driven means operating to tip said last spindle to cramp it in holding engagement with a last and thereafter to move the last spindle to pull the last from its shoe. and auxiliary means acting on said last spindle to tend to tip the last spindle for effecting and maintaining an initial last holding engagement to hold said spindle against accidental separation from said last until said power driven means becomes effective to cramp the last spindle in the last.

30. A last pulling machine having, in combination, shoe holding means, a last spindle, a swinging carrier therefor, a spring pressed plunger pressing against said carrier in a direction to tip said last pin into binding engagement with a. last, and means for relatively moving said shoe holding means and said last spindle to separate a shoe and last.

31.1% last pulling machine having, in combination, shoe holding means, last holding means manually movable in a direction to bring ashoe on a last engaging said last holding means into operative relation to said shoe holding means, and means for moving said last holding means in a direction to pull a last from its shoe.

A last pulling machine having. in combination, shoe holding means, a last spindle arranged for swinging movement to bring a shoe on a last mounted on said spindle into operative relation to said shoe hold ing means, power driven means for effecting relative movement of said shoe holding means and said spindle to separate a shoe and last, said means operating to maintain last holding engagement between said last spindle and said last, and means operating automatically to establish and maintain preliminary holding engagement between the last spindle and the last to prevent accidental separation of the last from the last holding means before said power driven means becomes effective to maintain said last holding engagement.

33. A machine for removing lasts fron'i shoes having. in combination, means for holding a shoe for removal ofa last the-refrom and power actuated means operating upon said last to remove the last completely from said shoe while the shoe is held by said holding means including means for efl'ecting lengthwise last movement.

A. machine for pulling lasts from shoes having, in combination, a clamp for holding a shoe for removal of a last therefrom and power actuated last pulling means arranged to exert upon said last a compound pulling action in directions to effect a complete withdrawal of the last from said shoe while the shoe is held by said holding means.

35. A machine for pulling lasts from shoes having, in combination, a clamp for holding a shoe for the removal of a last from within the shoe and power actuated last pulling means arranged to exert upon a last a compound pulling action in directions substantially perpendicular to the plane of the shoe bottom and lengthwise of the last and its shoe.

36. A last pulling machine having, in combination, means for holding a shoe, last holding means, and power-operated mechanism for effecting relative movement of said means including lengthwise last movement.

A machine for removing lasts from shoes having, in combination with means for holding a shoe for a last removing operation, power-operated last removing means movable to eifect last movement lengthwise of said shoe.

38. A last pulling machine having a shoe clamp in combination with a last holder movable to withdraw a last lengthwise heelward from a shoe and power-operated mechanism to move the last holder to withdraw a' last.

39. A. machine for removing lasts from shoes having, in combination, means for holding a shoe for the removal of a. last therefrom and power actuated last removing means operating when permitted by the relative positions of the shoe and last to effect lengthwise movement of the last relatively to the shoe.

,0. In a last pulling machine, in combination, means for holding a shoe for the re moval of a last therefrom, and power-operated last removing means arranged to exert an increasing lengthwise pull upon the last.

l-l. In a last pulling machine, in combination, means for holding a shoe, a last holder, and operating means for said holder including pivotal connections operating to cause the last holder to effect an increasing lengthwise last movement.

42. A machine for remeving lasts from shoes having, in combination with means for holding a shoe for the removal of a last therefrom, power operated mechanism for automatically withdrawing a last from a shoe by movement of the last in a direction generally perpendicular relatively to the plane of the shoe bottom with a substantial component of last movement lengthwise of the shoe and last.

d3. In a machine for removing lasts from shoes, in combination with means for holding a shoe for the removal of a last therefrom. last engaging means, with power operated mechanism organized to impart to a last a diagonally downward and heelward movement to withdraw said last from its shoe.

44-. A machine for removing lasts from shoes having, in combination with a shoe holder, a last holder, with power operated mechanism cooperating therewith, to withdraw a last from a shoe by a generally diagonally downward last movement having a substantial component of last movement heelward.

In a last pulling machine, means for holding a shoe for the removal of a last therefrom and power operated last removing mechanism organized to remove a last from its shoe by a generally downward last movement with a lengthwise component of movement increasing as permitted by the relative positions of shoe and last.

46. A machine for removing lasts from shoes having, in combination, means for holding a shoe for the removal of a last therefrom, together with power operated last removing mechanism organized to effect an initial relative movement of the heel portions of the shoe and last and then to move the last lengthwise.

47. A machine for removing lasts from shoes, having, in combination, a shoe holder and power operated last removing mechanism organized and arranged to effect an initial relative movement of the heel portions of a shoe and last and subsequently at a critical stage to effect a lengthwise movement of the last.

48. A machine for removing lasts from shoes having, in combination, means for holding a shoe for the removal of a last therefrom and power operated removing mechanism organized and arranged to effect an initial relative movement of the heel portions of the shoe and last in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the last bottom, and subsequently and automatically, when permitted by the relative posi tions of the shoe and last, to effect a lengthwise movement of the last relatively to the shoe.

49. A machine for removing lasts from shoes having, in combination, means for holding a shoe for the removal of a last therefrom, and power operated last removing means operative to effect an initial relative movement of the heel portions of the shoe and last in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the shoe bottom and then to complete the last removing operation by withdrawing the last lengthwise from the shoe.

50. A. machine for removing lasts from shoes having, in combination, means for holding a shoe for the removal of a last therefrom and power operated last removing mechanism operative to effect an initial relative movement of the heel portions of the shoe and last and subsequently, and substantially as soon as the last heel has cleared the shoe counter, to complete the last removing operation by a lengthwise movement of the last.

51. A last pulling machine having, in combination, shoe grippers, a last holder, and power operated mechanism for effecting relative movement of saidgrippers and said holder in variable directions responsive to the resistance to separation offered by each individual last and shoe operated upon and including relative movement of said grippers and holder lengthwise of the shoe and last.

52. A last pulling machine having, in combination, shoe grippers, a last holding spindle, and means for operating said spindle to pull a last from a shoe by movement including lengthwise last movement.

53. A last pulling machine having, in combination, shoe grippers, a last holding spindle, and means for operating said spindle to effect last movement perpendicularly to the plane of the shoe bottom and lengthwise oi the last and shoe.

5A. A last pulling machine having, in combination, shoe grippers, a last holding spindle, and means for operating said spindle to pull a last downwardly and heelward out of its shoe by lengthwise movement of the last.

55. A last pulling machine havin in combination, shoe grippers, a last ho ding spindle, a carrier for said spindle, and an operating member connected to said carrier to efiect an initial movement of said spindle and a last thereon and thereafter to move said spindle to complete the removal of the last from its shoe by lengthwise movement of the last.

56. A last pulling machine having, in combination, a last holder, shoe holding means engaging the rear portion of a shoe, shoe sole engaging means cooperating therewith, and mechanism for relatively moving said holder and said means to separate a shoe and last.

57. A last pulling machine having, in combination, last holding means, shoe counter gripping means, auxiliary shoe gripping and holding means, and mechanism for relatively moving said last holding means and said other means to separate a shoe and last.

58. A last pulling machine having, in combination, a last holding spindle, shoe gripping means, auxiliary cooperating shoe gripping means, and mechanism for relatively moving said spindle and said shoe gripping means to separate a shoe and last.

59. A last pulling machine having, in combination, last holding means, shoe holding means, shoe shank engaging means cooperating with the shoe holding means, and mechanism for relatively moving said last holding means and said other means to separate a shoe and last.

60. A last pulling machine having, in combination, a last holding spindle, shoe grippers, shoe sole engaging'means cooperating with said grippers, and operating mechanism for relatively moving said spindle and said other parts to separate a shoe and last.

61. A last pulling machine having, in combination, a last holding spindle, a shoe clamp, auxiliary shoe clamping and holding means, and mechanism for relatively moving said spindle and said shoe clamping means to separate a shoe and last.

62. A last pulling machine having, in combination, a last holder, a shoe clamp, auxiliary shoe holding means comprising shoe shank holding devices, and mechanism for relatively moving saidlast holder and said other parts to separate a shoe and last.

63. A last pulling machine having, in combination, last holding means, shoe holding means, auxiliary shoe holding means arranged to engage a shoe sole near the line between the forepart and the shank, and

mechanism for relatively moving said means to separate a shoe and last.

6 A last pulling machine having, 1n combination, last holding means, shoe holding means for engaging the rear portion of a shoe, welt crease engaging auxiliary shoe holding means, and mechanism for relatively moving said last holding means and said other means to separate a shoe and last.

65. In a last pulling machine, a last spindle arranged to oppose separation of a last therefrom, shoe grippers, welt crease engaging blades cooperating with said shoe grippers, and means'for relatively moving said last spindle and said other parts to separate a shoe and last.

66. A last pulling machine having, in combination, a last holder, shoe holding means having substantially right line movement transversely of the shoe into work engaging position, and power driven means for effecting said movement and for thereafter relatively moving said last holder and said shoe holding means to separate a shoe and last.

67. A last pulling machine having, in combination, a last holder, shoe clamping members relatively movable substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal median line of a shoe into shoe engaging position, and power driven means for relatively moving said members into work engaging position and for thereafter relatively moving said last'holder and said clamping members to separate a shoe and last.

68. A last pulling machine having, in combination, a last holder, shoe grippers having substantially right line movement into shoe engaging position, and power driven means operating automatically to move said shoe grippers into engagement with a shoe.

69. In a last pulling machine, in combination. shoe heel clamping members, means for relatively moving said members into engagement with a shoe heel, last holding means, and mechanism for eifecting relative movement between said holding means and the shoe heel clamping members to separate the shoe and last.

70. A last pulling machine having, in combination, shoe clamping members arranged for substantially right line relative movement into operative engagement with a shoe, together with power driven means for moving said members into shoe clamping engagement, and means operating to cause said clamping engagement to be eflected under springpressure.

71. In a last pulling machine, in combination, a normally open shoe clamp having Work engaging parts arranged to be brought into work engaging position by substantially right line movement thereof, poWer driven means for effecting said movement, and means for causing said movement to be yieldingly eifected.

T2. In a last pulling machine, in combination, shoe holding and gripping means, auxiliary shoe holding and gripping means cooperating therewith, mechanism for moving said means into holding engagement with a shoe last holding means, and mechanism for relatively moving said shoe holding means and last holding means to separate a shoe and last.

73. In a last pulling machine, in combination, shoe counter grippers, auxiliary shoe gripping means arranged to cooperate with said counter grippers, and means for moving one of said gripping means into holding en gagement with a shoe last holding means, and mechai'iism for relatively moving said shoe holding means and last holding means to separate a shoe and last.

74. In a last pulling machine, in combination, shoe holding means, auxiliary shoe engaging and holding means, and mechanism for automatically moving said auxiliary means into operative engagement with a shoe last holding means, and mechanism for relatively moving said shoe holding means and last holding means to separate a shoe and last.

7 In a last pulling machine, in combination, shoe grippers, auxiliary shoe sole engaging and holding means, and mechanism for relatively moving said grippers and said auxiliary means into operative engagement with a shoe last holding means, and mechanism for relatively moving said shoe holding means and last holding means to separate ashoe and last.

76. A last pulling machine having, in combination, shoe holding means arranged to form an abutment for a shoe against lengthwise movement heelward, and means for effecting relative movement of said shoe and a last therein to separate said shoe and last, said movement including lengthwise heelward movement of the last.

, 77. In a last pulling machine, in combination, a last holder, shoe holding means for engaging the rear portion of a shoe upon opposite sides thereof and arranged to form an abutment for said shoe against lengthwise movement in one direction, and mechanism for effecting movement of said last holder to remove a last from said shoe, said movement including last movement in said direction.

78. In a last pulling machine, last holding means, shoe clamping members arranged to prevent lengthwise movement of a shoe heelward, and means for effecting relative movement of a shoe and last to se arate the shoe and last, said movement including lengthwise heelward movement of the last.

79. In a last pulling machine, in combination, shoe counter grip ers formed to revent lengthwise movement of a shoe heelward, and last removing means arran ed to effect last movement in directions substantially perpendicular to the plane of the shoe bottom and lengthwise heelward.

80. A. last pulling machine having, in combination, shoe holding means comprising opposed independent members for engaging the counter of a shoe on opposite sides thereof, a last holder, and means for relatively moving said shoe holding member and said last holder to separate a shoe and last.

81. A last pulling machine having, in combination, shOe holding means comprising opposed independent counter gripping blocks of resilient material adapted to conform to the contour of a shoe counter, last holding means, and means for relatively moving said blocks and said last holding means to separate a shoe and last.

82. In a last pulling machine, in combination, shoe counter embracing means concaved both lengthwise and transversely of a shoe, last holding means and means for moving said last holding means to separate a last from its shoe.

88. In a last pulling machine, in combination, a shoe counter clamp having formed work engaging faces concaved both vertically and horizontally to conform substan tially to the contour of a shoe counter, a last holder, and power operated mechanism for relatively moving said clamp and said last holder to separate a shoe and last.

84. In a last pulling machine, last holding means, shoe counter engaging grippers concaved to conform to the vertical contour of a shoe counter, and power driven means for relatively moving said last holding means ment of the heel end of the shoe in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the shoe bottom, and mechanism for effecting movement of said last holding means in a direction to separate a last from its shoe.

86. In a last pulling machine, in combi* nation, means for holding a last, means for holding a shoe including means arranged to engage the counter portion of the upper at opposite sides of the longitudinal median line of the shoe, and mechanism for effecting movement of said last holding means in a direction to separate a last from its shoe.

87. A last pulling machine having, in combination, last holding means, shoe holding means arranged for holding engagement with a shoe heel, and mechanism for relatively moving said last holding means and said shoe holding means to separate a shoe and last.

88. In a last pulling machine, a last holder, shoe heel grippers, and means for relatively moving said last holder and said grippers.

89. In a last pulling machine, in combination, last holding means, a shoe heel clamp shaped to conform substantially to the contour of a heel from the tread face to the heel seat, and means for relatively movingsaid last holding means and said heel clamp.

90. In a last pulling machine, in combination, last holding means, shoe heel grippers concaved to approximate the contour of the sides of a heel from the breast rearwardly, and means for relatively moving said last holding means and said grippers.

91. A last pulling machine having, in combination, a last holder, means for holding a shoe, an abutment for said shoe to prevent lengthwise movement heelward, and means for operating said last holder to remove a last from said shoe.

92. A last pulling machine having, in combination, a last holder, a shoe holder, a shoe gage, and means for relatively moving said last holder and said shoe holder to separate a shoe and last.

93. In a last pulling machine, in combination, last holding means, shoe holding means, a shoe gage for positioning a shoe with relation to said shoe holding means, and means for relatively moving said last holding means and said shoe holding means to separate a shoe and last. 

